NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks and NHL Mobile name and logo, NHL GameCenter and Unlimited NHL are trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams.

Bruins Week Ahead: March 29 - April 5

This weeks news, notes and numbers.

Friday, 03.29.2013 / 6:41 PM
Boston Bruins

THIS WEEK’S NEWS, NOTES AND NUMBERS…

KRUG ASSIGNED TO PROVIDENCE: Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today, March 29, that the team has assigned defenseman Torey Krug to Providence. Krug is expected to join the Providence Bruins in Scranton to face the Wilkes-Barre Penguins. Krug skated in one game after being recalled to Boston on March 27 and registered one assist in 15:47 of ice time. The defenseman has now skated a total three NHL games and has notched two assists. Krug has skated in 55 games with Providence (AHL) this season and has registered 10 goals and 24 assists for 34 points with 33 penalty minutes.

B’S TO HOST BRUINS FOR BABIES: The Boston Bruins will be hosting Bruins for Babies during the home game against the Ottawa Senators on April 2, 2013 to benefit March of Dimes. Guests of the Bruins and March of Dimes will be invited for the game and will participate in fan experiences such as Bench Assistant, High Five Experience, Zamboni Rides and a post game meet and greet with Patrice Bergeron. All mystery autographed pucks sold and funds from the 50/50 raffle will benefit March of Dimes. For more information, please visit the “Around Town” section of the Week Ahead.

18 BRUINS TO PARTICIPATE IN “CUTS FOR A CAUSE”: Bruins forward Shawn Thornton is teaming up with 98.5 The Sports Hub and 17 other members of the 2012-13 Bruins roster for the sixth annual "Cuts for a Cause" event on Monday, April 1 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Royale Boston. All Bruins players will have their heads shaved by auction winners to show their support and raise money for the Shawn Thornton Foundation, Boston Bruins Foundation and Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center. The 18 current players shaving their heads is the highest number of players participating in the event’s six-year history. For more information, please visit the “Around Town” section of the Week Ahead.

BRUINS CLAIM DAUGAVINS: B’s GM Peter Chiarelli announced March 27, that the team claimed forward Kaspars Daugavins off waivers. The former Ottawa Senator will join the club after his United States work visa has been secured. In 19 games with the Senators this season, Daugavins has registered one goal and two assists with nine penalty minutes. Daugavins has skated in 85 NHL games notching six goals and eight assists for 14 points with 21 penalty minutes.

TOREY KRUG RECALLED: On March 27, the Bruins recalled defenseman Torey Krug from Providence. Krug was put in the lineup the same night he was recalled and earned an assist against the Canadiens with his assist to Patrice Bergeron on the power play. Prior to joining Boston, Krug had skated in 55 games with Providence (AHL) and had registered 10 goals and 24 assists for 34 points with 33 penalty minutes. Krug is fourth on the P-Bruins in points, and leads all defensemen, and is tied for fifth in goals with 10. Krug’s 34 points rank sixth in the AHL among D-men.

B’S SIGN BARTKOWSKI & CASTO: Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced March 26, that the club signed defenseman Matt Bartkowski to a one-year, one-way contract extension through the 2013-14 season and University of Minnesota-Duluth defenseman Chris Casto to an entry-level contract. Bartkowski has appeared in two games with Boston and 56 games for Providence where he has registered three goals and 21 assists for 24 points with 56 penalty minutes. Casto will join the Bruins organization from the University of Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA), where the defenseman skated in 36 games this year, tallying three goals and six assists.

STATS YOU MAY FIND INTERESTING…

BERGERON'S SELKE RESUME: After winning his first Frank J. Selke Trophy last year, Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron has carried his two-way success into the 2013 season. Often playing against the opposition's top line, Bergeron sits third in the NHL with a +24 rating after winning the plus/minus title during last year's campaign (+36). Bergeron has logged 72:58 on the PK and serves as the primary forward on the B's penalty kill unit, which leads the league with a 91.2% success rate, yet has only been on the ice for one of the ten power play goals allowed by the B's this season. On the faceoff dot, the centerman leads the league in winning puck drops at a 62.4% (424/680) clip and his 60.2% proficiency over the past two seasons is the NHL's best as well. Offensively, Bergeron leads the Black & Gold in assists (21) and points (31) and is currently third on the team in goals with 10.

5+ GOAL GAME DROUGHT: Prior to Wednesday's match against Montreal, the Bruins had gone 26 games without scoring five or more goals. The team ended this stretch by scoring five goals against the Canadiens in a 6-5 loss on March 27. This was Boston's longest stretch between five-or-more goal games since the 26-game stretch between February 5 and April 11, 2002.

MATINEE SUCCESS: The Bruins will play their seventh of eight regular season matinees on Saturday in Philadelphia against the Flyers. The B's are currently 5-1-0 in those contests. The Black & Gold will have one more afternoon game this year on Sunday, April 21 at 12:30 p.m. against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden.

CATCH YOUR BREATH: The Bruins will have had a two-day break before facing the Philadelphia Flyers this Saturday, which will be their only break of consecutive games in a 63-day span (February 24 - April 27). The Bruins will play their last 16 games, including the rescheduled Tampa Bay Lightning game on April 25, of the shortened season in 27 days starting Saturday in Philadelphia.

UPCOMING GAMES…

UPCOMING GAMES: The Bruins will play four games this week, with two on the road and two at home. On Saturday, March 30, the B’s will face off against the Philadelphia Flyers at 1:00 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center before making their way to Buffalo to take on the Sabres at the First Niagara Center at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 31. The Black and Gold will then make their way back to Boston for a 7:00 p.m. matchup on Tuesday, April 2 against the Ottawa Senators at the TD Garden. The Bruins will finish their week with a 7:00 faceoff at the TD Garden against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, April 4.

BROADCAST SCHEDULE: Jack Edwards, Andy Brickley and Naoko Funayama will cover all of this week’s games on NESN. Saturday and Thursday’s games will also be broadcast on the NHL Network, and Sunday’s tilt will be nationally broadcast on NBC Sports Network as well as TSN. The tandem of Dave Goucher and Bob Beers will handle all radio duties on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Start times for the upcoming games are as follows:

3/30 at Philadelphia Flyers, 1:00 p.m. ET – NESN, NHL Network

3/31 at Buffalo Sabres, 7:30 p.m. ET – NBC Sports Network, NESN, TSN

4/2 vs. Ottawa Senators, 7:00 p.m. ET – NESN

4/4 vs. New Jersey Devils, 7:00 p.m. ET – NESN, NHL Network

BRUINS THIRD JERSEY SCHEDULE: The Bruins will suit up in their third jerseys for two more games this season at the TD Garden – both against different opponents.

4/8 vs. Carolina

4/19 vs. Pittsburgh

144 AND COUNTING: Following Wednesday’s home game at the TD Garden, the Bruins have sold out their last 144 home games, including regular season and playoffs. This sellout streak began more than three years ago on December 5, 2009 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The last game the Bruins did not have 17,565 in attendance at the Garden was on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 when they hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning (16,553).

BOSTON MEDIA TWEET OF THE WEEK (TOTW): The Boston media “Tweet of the Week” is in its eleventh week of the 2012-13 season. Fluto Shizawa has been alone atop the TOTW standings for a majority of the season but now has company with Matt Kalman taking home this week’s honors with his tweet regarding the Geoff Ward earpiece mystery video that was circulating the internet:

@TheBruinsBlog: “Glad the Geoff Ward earpiece mystery was solved. That Tyler Seguin is such a rascal. #BruinsKeepingItLoose #BeerFloaterTalk”

Here are this week’s honorable mentions, in no particular order:

@DJ_Bean: “YES. Got "hoodwinked" onto the transcript on the Bruins' media site. I can retire now.”

@_TyAnderson: “The Bruins are making a statement tonight. That statement? Don't make them snap their fingers in a z-formation, Montreal.”

@GlobeKPDL: “Bruins without a lead all night. Pocket two points. The shootout. The wonder of it all.”

2012-13 BOSTON MEDIA TWEET OF THE WEEK LEADERBOARD

@GlobeFluto (Fluto Shinzawa, Boston Globe), Weeks 1, 4, 8

@TheBruinsBlog (Matt Kalman, The Bruins Blog), Weeks 5, 9, 11

@JesseNEHJ (Jesse Connolly, New England Hockey Journal), Week 3, 7

@DJ_Bean (DJ Bean, WEEI.com), Week 2

@HackswithHaggs (Joe Haggerty, CSNNE.com), Week 6

@_TyAnderson (Ty Anderson, HockeyBuzz.com), Week 10

LAST BRUINS PROSPECT REPORT SENT OUT: Thursday, March 28

NEXT BRUINS PROSPECT REPORT SENT OUT: Tuesday, April 16

PREVIOUS PROSPECT REPORT SUMMARY: The Bruins Communications staff sent out their eleventh edition of the Boston Bruins Prospect Report on March 28. It can be viewed online at BostonBruins.com and on the Bruins Media Website. In addition to notes and statistics on all players in the Bruins system, the report features insight on forwards Justin Florek and Alexander Khokhlachev. The development of both prospects is spotlighted in written features.

OFF THE ICE…

PATRICE’S PALS: As a part of his continuing charitable initiative Patrice’s Pals, Bruins alternate captain Patrice Bergeron invites children from local hospitals and other organizations to experience a Bruins home game from his luxury suite. Children and their families receive goodie bags filled with Bruins memorabilia, a visit from the Bruins Mascot Blades and Bruins Ice Girls, as well as a feature on the Garden HDX. After the game, Patrice’s Pals are escorted to ice level and introduced to Patrice himself who signs autographs and takes pictures with his Pals. This will take place at all Boston Bruins home games during the 2012-13 season.

SAVVY’S SUITE: Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard has partnered with the Brain Injury Center at Children’s Hospital Boston, inviting children who suffer from the effects of Brain Trauma, both physically and psychologically, to attend a Bruins home game in his luxury suite. Children and their families receive goodie bags with Bruins memorabilia and a visit from Bruins Mascot Blades and Bruins Ice Girls. Savard started the program on Thursday, January 12, 2012, and it will continue through the end of the 2013-14 Bruins season.

COMMUNITY TICKET PROGRAM: For the entirety of the Boston Bruins 2012-13 regular season, Bruins Principal and Alternate Governor Charlie Jacobs is donating ten balcony tickets to every home game to children from charitable organizations across New England, who are invited to enjoy a Bruins home game from these donated seats.

BRAD’S BRIGADE IS BACK: The 2012-2013 season marks an exciting new chapter for Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand’s charitable program, “Brad’s Brigade”. Established in 2010, Marchand’s program invites children from pediatric oncology units across New England to experience a Bruins home game. Children and their families sit in the loge section and are featured on the Garden HDX. Each family also receives a Brad’s Brigade T-Shirt, a Garden Gold Card and a goodie bag with Bruins memorabilia. At the conclusion of the game, families are escorted down to ice level where they have the opportunity to meet Marchand and get a photo taken with him.

AROUND TOWN…

BOSTON BRUINS WARRIOR CLINIC SERIES

WHAT: The Boston Bruins and Warrior Hockey have partnered to host six on-ice sessions as part of the “Warrior Clinic Series” throughout New England this season. Each clinic features on-ice instruction led by Boston Bruins Alumni and members of the Boston Bruins Youth Hockey Development Team. The sessions will focus on developing player’s individual offensive and defensive games, while also improving overall team play. Each participant will receive a gift bag, a jersey and raffle ticket for the chance to win Bruins autographed memorabilia and the latest Warrior hockey gear.

WHEN: Friday, March 29 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Simoni Skating Rink, 155 Gore Street, Cambridge MA

BRUINS PARTICIPATING: Bruins Alumni Tommy Songin

18 B’S TO PARTICIPATE IN CUTS FOR A CAUSE

WHAT: Bruins forward Shawn Thornton is teaming up with 98.5 The Sports Hub and 17 other members of the 2012-13 Bruins roster for the sixth annual "Cuts for a Cause" event on Monday, April 1 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Royale Boston. All Bruins players will have their heads shaved by auction winners to show their support and raise money for the Shawn Thornton Foundation, Boston Bruins Foundation and Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center. The 18 current players shaving their heads is the highest number of players participating in the event’s six-year history.

WHAT: The Boston Bruins have selected 10 youth hockey organizations throughout New England to host a P.A.S.S. (Partnership to Assist Skaters and Shooters) clinic presented by TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, this season. TD Bank and the Boston Bruins have teamed up for the seventh straight year to support New England youth hockey through the P.A.S.S. clinic series. P.A.S.S. features a free on-ice clinic conducted by Bruins alumni and members of the Boston Bruins Youth Hockey Development Team. The clinic includes instruction on hockey fundamentals such as skating, passing and shooting, as well as a $1000 donation from TD Bank to each hosting youth hockey organization. In addition, each individual participant will receive two tickets to an upcoming Bruins game as well as a TD Bank P.A.S.S. jersey and gift bag. P.A.S.S. clinics are open to youth hockey players between the ages of 8 and 12.

WHEN: Monday, April 1, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Flynn Rink, 300 Elm Street, Medford MA

BRUINS PARTICIPATING: Bruins alumni Tommy Songin

BRUINS TO HOST BRUINS FOR BABIES

WHAT: The Boston Bruins will be hosting Bruins for Babies during the home game against the Ottawa Senators on April 2, 2013 to benefit March of Dimes. Guests of the Bruins and March of Dimes will be invited for the game and will participate in fan experiences such as Bench Assistant, High Five Experience, Zamboni Rides and a post game meet and greet with Patrice Bergeron. All mystery autographed pucks sold and funds from the 50/50 raffle will benefit March of Dimes.

NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks and NHL Mobile name and logo, NHL GameCenter and Unlimited NHL are trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams.